Daily Archives: September 28, 2012

Only about one in four animals that arrive at the Baker County Animal Control kennel survive the experience, and the remaining animals end up at the New River landfill after being euthanized.

Some are seized due to neglect or abuse, others are picked up for running loose in violation of the county’s leash law, and yet others are brought to the shelter on Steel Bridge Rd. by owners who can no longer care for them.

Since October 1, 2011, according to the county’s count, 1421 animals, mostly dogs and cats, were housed at the kennel. Of those, 1053 or 74 percent were euthanized.

“Please note that this number includes animals euthanized at their owner’s request and animals injured, sick, diseased or feral,” said County Manager C.J. Thompson.

Jay Canaday, who works full-time and runs a dog rescue from his Glen St. Mary home known as the London Sanctuary, said he’s grown frustrated by the low-priority that animals seem to have in Baker County, both in the eyes of the general public and animal control.

The county manager, in part, agreed.

“There’s no doubt it’s been a low priority of the population as a whole,” said Mr. Thompson. “If animals were a priority, people wouldn’t be dumping them on the side of the road and then they end up at the shelter.”

A Mississippi man was charged September 17 with DUI manslaughter and other counts stemming from the death of a Macclenny woman and her unborn child in a late night accident on March 29 of this year.

The Florida Highway Patrol completed a homicide investigation and submitted the results to the state attorney’s office in the case against Randall Hunter Morrow, 25, of Courtland, MS.

Mr. Morrow, an industrial welder, was driving a 2007 Dodge utility truck east on Andrews St. in Glen St. Mary when it ran a stop sign at CR 125 and slammed into a northbound 2004 Toyota driven by Virginia Kirk, also 25.

The impact killed Ms. Kirk, a Northeast Florida State Hospital aide who just ended her evening shift.

The accident occurred just before midnight when Mr. Morrow and a co-worker left the nearby residence of acquaintance Clinton Harvey. They were returning to a motel near Jacksonville airport.

The charges include DUI manslaughter for Ms. Kirk’s death, vehicular homicide for the death of the unborn child, DUI impairment and DUI with injury or property damage.

Fall is perhaps the busiest time of the year for most of us, not only because of the holidays that seem to arrive one after another following Labor Day, but also due to a number of popular events that occur locally like the county fair, homecoming festivities and the Christmas parade.

Add to the mix a few lower-profile community events, fundraisers, charity drives and church activities and you get a jam-packed fall calendar. So, in an effort to ensure Baker County residents don’t get lost in the avalanche of fall happenings this year, The Press has compiled a comprehensive guide to community events occurring from October through the end of the year, including ways to contribute to a host of good causes this season.

• The Baker County Fair

The Baker County Fair will be October 4-13 at the fairgrounds, 5567 Lauramore Rd. in Macclenny. Armband and admission prices drop beginning October 7, and a two-for-one special will be October 9 only. See thisi week’s edition for a full list of midway specials.

The 2012 fair will feature “the largest midway ever assembled” at the fairgrounds, according to the fair’s website. For more information, please see this year’s fair book available at the fairgrounds, the Ag Center and other locations.

• Baker County Sheriff’s Office Golf Tournament

The 16th Annual Baker County Sheriff’s Office Golf Tournament and Charles Miller Memorial will be October 5 at the Eagle Landing golf course in Oak Leaf Plantation. Entry fee is $75 per person or $300 per team. For more information, please call Lynn Taylor at 259-2231.